Pouring attachment



Aug. 13, 1957 M. D. DONOVAN 2,802,609

' v POURING ATTACHMENT I Filed Jan. 11, 1954 2 Sheeis-Sheet 1 IN VENTOR.

FIG. 2 MQTo/v D. Denver/IN W TTORNEVS Aug. 13, 1957 V M. D. DONOVAN2,802,609

POUR ING ATTACHMENT Filed Jan. 11, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. MILrmv D. Dolvqm N 2,s02,soa POURING ATTACHMENT Milton D. Donovan, LosGatos, Calif. Application January 11, 1954, Serial No. 493,287 12Claims. (Cl. 222-570 The present invention relates to a pouringattachment of general utility which is extremely simple in nature, yetpossesses a high degree of utility in providing features novel in theart. The invention will be explained in connection with its applicationto a paint container or pail, it being realized, of course, that thepouring attach ment finds other useful applications. i The attachment inits simplest form comprises a pliable lip of truncated conicalappearance having a strengthening ring bounding the minimum-diameter lipsection for engagement with the mouth of a container or pail. The ringis further strengthened by a rib extending thereacross in chord fashion.A partitioning rib extends between the strengthening rib and the ringconnecting to the latter along the are formed by the strengthening rib.

A pouring attachment in accordance with the instant invention serves theusual purposes of such devices in that the lip or funnel of conicalshape provides a return for paint splashed out of the pail duringstirring or mixing; the lip increases the effective volume of the pailto permit mixing or thinning in the original container; the deviceprovides, in the form of the strengthening rib, a suitable brush scraperfor removing excess paint from the brush; and prevents slopped paintfrom reaching the sealing grooves in the container top. All of theenumerated features are provided by an attachment of simple andinexpensive character admitting of convenient manufacture by moldingfrom suitable plastic. The pouring attachment can also be fabricatedfrom various materials, such as lightweight metal, oiled paper, fiber,rubber or neoprene, and the like, but it has been found that plasticintegral molding provides an economical pouring attachment offeringadditional features, particularly when the plastic employed sets in asoft or pliable condition. The non-rigid funnel admits of accidentalstriking without tipping the pail and is generally impervious to sharpimpact.

Additionally a device in accordance with the instant invention providessuch features as a rest or support for wet paint brushes in the form ofthe strengthening and partitioning ribs which permit drainage while alsoservmg to skin the paint as it is poured from the container beneath thestrengthening rib. Pouring may also be accomplished through the oppositeside of the funnel when the paint is free from skin.

It is known that paint containers produced by various manufacturers havemouths or orifices of slightly diflerent diameter for a given sizecontainer. One well known manufacturer provides a quart paint containerhaving an opening measuring three and one-quarter inches in diameter ascompared with a diametrical measure of three and thirteen thirty-secondsinches for the mouth of cans produced by another manufacturer. Thediameter of the opening is still further varied, generally lying withinthe range of three and a quarter inches to three and a half inches whenother manufacturers are considered. Accordingly, a modification of theinvention provides a universal pouring attachment suitable for use withany of the cans presently manufactured. The strengthening ring and loweror minimum-diameter lip section are merely provided with a plurality ofspaced apart peripheral grooves having different diameters toaccommodate the different diameter beads of the various paintcontainers, the taper of the lip section conveniently admitting ofgrooving for this purpose.

Other objects of the instant invention will be apparent to those skilledinthe art from a reading of the following detailed description thereofwhen taken in the light of the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view. in plan of a pouring attachment per se;

Fig. 2 is a view in cross section of the pouring attachment, as seenalong the plane indicated by the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, in suitableengagement with a container or paint pail;

Fig. 3 is a view in section similar to that of Fig. 2 showing auniversal type attachment accommodating a relative- 1y large-mouthedcontainer; and,

Fig. 4 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of theuniversal attachment of Fig. 3 accommodating a paint container having asmaller opening than the container illustrated in Fig. 3.

The pouring attachment shown in Fig. 1 has a conical lip 11 of pliablematerial which converges into a ring 13 bounding the minimum-diameterlip section. A strengthening rib 15 extends in chord fashion across thering 13 preferably being formed integrally therewith. As is shown inFig. 1, the rib 15 is of a length less than a diameter of the ring 13and is laterally connected to the ring by a partitioning rib 17. Ofcourse, the rib 15 could be diametrically positioned with respect to thering 13 if desired. The ribs 15 and 17 provide a pair of openings ororifices l9 and 21 through which paint may be poured from a container 23(Fig. 2). A partitioning rib 17 of a length of approximately one-halfinch has been found satisfactory for defining the most generally usefulseparation of the strengthening rib 15 from the inner periphery of ring13 for a suitable pouring attachment adaptable to the one-quart paintcontainer. Not only is the paintskinning operation eflectedsatisfactorily but also the paint brush support formed by the ribs 15and 17 will accommodate a brush of the ordinary size utilized with suchmeasures. For larger containers the dimensions are usually increasedaccordingly so that efficient pouring may be had while the skinningoperation is preserved.

The ring 13 is generally of channel section along its outer periphery,being recessed between an upper shoulder 25 and a lower flange 27 forabutting engagement with the inner vertical flange 29 of the upper edgestructure 31 of the container 23. A further recess 33 is provided in thering periphery adjacent to the shoulder 25 to accommodate a head or rim35 of the paint container upper edge structure 31. The flange 27 andrecess 33 of the ring 13 cooperate with the container flange 29 and head35 to provide a locking arrangement for insuring positive location ofthe pouring attachment relative to the container 23 in fluid-tightrelation. The thickened ring 13 is less flexible or pliable than the lip11 and therefore provides reliable engagement with the container 23 oncethe ring is forced into position. The strengthening rib 15, furtherstiffened by the partitioning rib 17, augments the locking action. Ofcourse, the attachment may be removed as desired for future use, thepliability remaining in spite of cleaning, continued use, or intervalsof storage.

The universal attachment shown in Figs. 3 and 4-may conveniently beconsidered the same as the attachment of Fig. 2 with the lower half ofthe ring 13 of the structure of Fig. 2 being removed and an additionalgroove 51 (Fig. 4) beingv provided near the truncated end of the pliablelip 11. The foregoing suggested conversion does not, of course,represent the best mode of manufacture of the universal model but ismerely presented to reveal the relatively minor changes necessary toconvert the attachment of Fig.2 to the universal typenrodel. The mostconvenient mannerof producingeither type attachment is by molding, theplastic requiring only about ten to fifteen seconds to set or hardenthen enabling removal from the mold for minor trimming operations. Theuse of a multiple mold permits a single operator to produce a largequantity of such attachments during a single working day,-the cost ofthe raw material being practically negligible.

The lower groove 33' of the universal attachment corresponds to thegroove 33of the attachment of Fig. 2, being peripherally located withrespect-to the stiffening ring 13'. In Fig. 4the groove 33accommodatesthe head 35' of a can 23' of the same size and shape, for-example, asthe can 23 of'Fig. 2. The lower "portion of the ring 13' preferablyabuts the container flange 29 in order to assure 'a positivegrippingaction. It should be pointed out that the ring 13' of theuniversal type attachment can correspondprecisely to the ring 13 of theattachment of Fig. .2, i. e., be provided with a bottom flange similarto the flange 27 illustrated in: Fig. 2 adapted to extend beneath thecontainer vertical flange 29 but it has been found that the structureof' Fig. 4 enables a gripping action suflicient to'permit thecontaineractually to be lifted bymeans of the attachment, which gripping actionis, of course, all that is ever required of a paint pailattachment.

In Fig. 3 the universal attachment is employed with a container 23" ofthe same capacity as the containers 23 and 23 but one manufactured witha larger orifice or opening as defined by the bead 35". The attachmentis merely forced further into the can to allow the bead 35" to seatwithin the groove 51, the shoulder 53 of the attachment which separatesthe grooves 51 and 33' being preferably adapted for abutment with thevertical flange 29" of the .container 23". The lip 11' may be providedwith a plurality of grooves of increasing diameter located in spacedapart relation upwardly of the groove 51 respectively to accommodate themultiplicity of different size containers manufactured.

'Like the attachment of Fig. 2 the universal type attachment forming themodification of the invention illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 providesreliable engagement with either the container 23 or 23" since the ring13' and the .base portion of the lip 11 are thickened and consequently'less flexible or pliable than the lip in general. The strengthening rib15' is further stiffened by the partitioning rib 17' to augment thelocking action. Also, the universal attachment admits of detachment fromcans without damage to enable repeated usage thereof.

Havingnow described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A pouring attachment adapted to grip the open mouth of a container toprovide a fluid-tight relation therewith comprising a pliable funnel forlocation .relative to the container mouth to extend upwardly of thecontainer, the funnel terminating atone end in a ring to form the baseof the funnel adapted to fit within the container mouth, a strengtheningrib means of length less than the diameter of the ring disposed acrossthe ring in chord fashion to partition the funnel and a partitioning ribextending normal to the strengthening rib and between it and the nearestportion of the ring.

2., A pouring attachment for a container having an opening defined by avertical flange provided with an upper bead, comprising, a pliablefunnel for location relative to the container opening to extend upwardlyof the container, the base of the pliable funnel being of ring formationand adapted to fit the container opening, said ring having asubstantially U-shaped peripheral recess to accommodate the verticalflange of the container, said ring having a further peripheral recesswithin the U-shaped recess to accommodate the container bead, and ribmeans 4 disposed across the ring in chord fashion to partition thefunnel.

3. A pouring attachment for a container having an opening defined by avertical flange provided with an upper bead, comprising, a pliablefunnel for location relative to the container opening to extend upwardlyof the container, the funnel base being of ring configuration andadapted to fit the container opening, said ring having a substantiallychannel section for abutting engagement with the vertical flange of thecontainer, and a peripheral recess within the channel to accommodate thecontainer bead, and strengthening rib means disposed across the ring inchord fashion to partition the funnel.

4. A pouring attachmentfor paint containers adapted to grip the mouth ofthe container in fluid-tight relation and extend upwardly thereof,comprising, a pliable lip of truncated conical appearance, the said lipterminating in a strengthening ring at the end of the lip of leastdiameter for engaging the. mouth of the container, a strengthening ribextending. across the ring in chord fashion, and a partitioningribsubstantially diametrically located with respect to the ring andconnecting the strengthening rib with the shorter arc portion of thering as defined by the strengthening rib.

5. A pouring attachment for paint containers adapted to grip the mouthof a container in fluid-tight relation and extend upwardly thereof,comprising, a pliable -lip of truncated conical appearance terminatingin a strengthening ring of substantially channel section at the end ofthe lip of least diameter for engaging the mouth of the container, astrengthening rib extending across the ring in chord fashion, andpartitioning rib means extending from the ring to the strengthening ribin the region bounded by the shorter arc portion of the ring and thestrengthening rib.

6. A pouring attachment-for a paint container having an opening definedby a vertical flange provided with an upper peripheral bead, comprising,a pliable lip of truncated conical appearance, a strengthening ring ofsubstantially channel section bounding the end of the lip of leastdiameter adapted to abut the vertical flange of the container, said ringhaving a peripheral recess within the channel section for accommodatingthe container bead, a strengthening rib extending across the ring inchord fashion, and a partitioning rib substantially diametricallylocated with respect to the ring and connecting the strengthening ribwith the shorter arc portion of the ring as defined by the strengtheningrib.

7. A pouring attachment for securement to a container by fluid-tightgripping of the container mouth and arranged to extend outwardlytherefrom, comprising, a pliable lip of truncated conical appearance, astrengthening ring bounding the minimum-diameter lip section forengagement with the mouth of the container, a strengthening ribextending across the ring as a chord of alength less than the ringdiameter, .and partitioningrib means extending between the circumferenceof the ring and the strengthening rib.

8. A pouring attachment for securement to a container .by fluid-tightgripping of the containenmouth and arranged to extend outwardlytherefrom, comprising, a pliable lip of truncated conical appearance, apliable strengthening ring bounding the minimum-diameter lip section forengagement with the mouth of the container, a strengthening ribextending across the ring'asgachord .of a length less than the ringdiameter, and partitioning rib means extending between the circumference"of the ring and the strengthening rib and joining the rib atsubstantiallya right angle.

9. Apouring attachment for securement toa container by fluid-tightgripping of the container mouth and arranged to extend outwardlytherefrom, comprising, a pliable lip of truncated conical appearanceterminating at one end in a strengthening ringzbounding-theminimumdiameter lip section for engagement with :the.:mouth .of

the container, a strengthening rib extending across the ring as a chordof a length less than the ring diameter, and a partitioning ribextending between the circumference of the ring and the strengtheningrib of a length less than the ring radius.

10. A pouring attachment adapted to grip the open mouth of a containerto provide a fluid-tight relation therewith comprising a pliable funnelfor location relative to the container mouth to extend upwardly of thecontainer, the pliable funnel terminating in one direction in a ring toform the base of the funnel and being adapted to fit within thecontainer mouth, said ring and portion of the funnel adjacent the ringhaving peripheral grooves, and rib means disposed across'the ring inchord fashion to partition the ring.

11. A pouring attachment for paint containers adapted to grip the mouthof a container in fluid-tight relation and extend upwardly thereof,comprising, a pliable lip of truncated conical appearance, astrengthening ring bounding the end of the lip of least diameter forinsertion within the container mouth, said ring and lip having spacedapart peripheral grooves, a strengthening rib extending 6 across thering in chord fashion, and a partitioning rib between the strengtheningrib and ring.

12. A universal pouring attachment for paint containers havingperipheral beads about the mouths thereof respectively of differentdiameters, comprising, a pliable lip of truncated conical appearance ofincreasing thickness in the direction of the apex, a strengthening ringbounding the end of the lip of least diameter, said ring and lip havinga plurality of spaced apart peripheral grooves respectively adapted toreceive container beads of different diameters to locate the attachmentin fluid-tight relation with the container accommodated, and apartitioning rib extending between the circumference of the ring and thestrengthening rib.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,564,979 Jorgensen Aug. 21, 1951 2,570,426 Cassidy Oct. 9, 19512,627,367 Bork Feb. 3, 1953 2,722,347 Henke Nov. 1, 1955

